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Women In Canada: The Top Stories Of 2011 For Canadian Women

Women Canada 2011

The Huffington Post Canada   First Posted: 12/28/11 06:52 PM ET Updated: 12/29/11 08:23 AM ET

Amazing
 Inspiring
 Funny
 Scary
 Hot
 Crazy
 Important
 Weird

2011 was a year for women to not only change the forefront of representation in Canada, but also to demonstrate just what it is that makes us take action. Whether it's a stand against victim shaming, threats to public systems or singing our hearts out, the diversity the country is well represented through its female population.

On an international level, Canada was named the third best country for women by Newsweek, after Iceland and Sweden. Though we still rank poorly in equal representation in government, Canada proved to be a leader for justice, health and education for women -- giving us an overall score of 96.6.

Though it is impossible to highlight all of the achievements and struggles of women in 2011, The Huffington Post Canada took a look at some of the year's most important and influential stories, and their connection to the women who were so often the subject. From winning seats in elections to declaring a ban on a the niqab, 2011 has been a year of change, one that we expect to feel the effects from for years to come.

SlutWalk Goes Global
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It started as a flippant remark by a Toronto police officer, telling women to stop dressing "like sluts" if they wanted to avoid sexual assault, and grew into an international phenomenon. Co-founders Sonya Barnett and Heather Jarvis were instrumental in creating SlutWalks around the world, including Cape Town, Melbourne, New Delhi, Berline, Buenos Aires, and many more cities. These highly organized marches saw the female (and more than a few male) participants dressing provocatively, and delivering the clear message: it is never the victim's fault.
(From Left to Right) Erika, Jeanette, Alyssa, Sonya, Heather
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Which moment was your favourite? Let us know in the comments below.

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2011 was a year for women to not only change the forefront of representation in Canada, but also to demonstrate just what it is that makes us take action. Whether it's a stand against victim shaming, ...
2011 was a year for women to not only change the forefront of representation in Canada, but also to demonstrate just what it is that makes us take action. Whether it's a stand against victim shaming, ...
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Bazmeg6969
1 Fans
 
11:48 AM on 12/29/2011
Boring...YAWNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
rickthaluddite
What noisy cats are we
427 Fans
 
11:51 AM on 12/29/2011
here, have a nickel, little monkey
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
opprobrious
More speech. Less Flagging.
922 Fans
07:51 PM on 12/28/2011
Great. Conservative women win their respective elections. Pardon me if I don't get excited.
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Jim Cohoon
161 Fans
07:41 PM on 12/28/2011
I see the female premiers of BC and Alberta pictured above. While I may not necessarily vote for any particular female leader, I strongly urge more competent females to step forward and challenge men for leadership positions. This is important for many reasons, not least of all is the rise of Harperism in Canada. It is profoundly 'patriarchal' at its 'moral' roots. Regardless of their party affiliation, competent female leaders will intrinsically act as a moral 'firewall' against rampant Harperism in Canada, along with the Constitution, the Supreme Court and federalism.
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Maggie in NB
1 Fans
07:37 AM on 12/29/2011
Jim - I agree with most of what you say Jim. But do you believe, for the most part, women hold themselves to a higher moral standard than men? I'm just unsure of your meaning. For the most part I believe that's true but not always. But I'm naive, I still believe Canada (my own NB particularly) can be saved if only we get this arrogance out of our Gov't!
Opprobrious - well what can I add to that stmt? It's self explanitory :(
Maggie in NB
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rickthaluddite
What noisy cats are we
427 Fans
 
07:54 AM on 12/29/2011
Happy to be fan #1 Maggie-- I already like you more than my sister, Margaret-- she's one of the non-voters I wrote of below. Or, she (at age 43) still calls our dad to see who he's voting for because she wouldn't want to cancel out his vote????
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
rickthaluddite
What noisy cats are we
427 Fans
 
07:43 AM on 12/29/2011
Not just participate as candidates, but as voters, too. My neighbour is a 26 year old PhD student at the Ontario Veterinary College (University of Guelph) and when I asked her thoughts on our recent provincial election, she said, "I don't vote." I was stunned. Are all young people so disengaged? We chatted for a few minutes and I tried to explain that the Province pays a huge share of the cost of her education and whoever is in office controls the funding. Lucky for us, McGuinty was re-elected. He took a bit of a hit. The Liberal Party of Ontario missed a majority by a couple of seats, so any legislation they write will need agreement from either the left leaning NDP, or the right leaning PC. I understand how my neighbour might be so locked up in her studies-- becoming a veterinarian can't be easy, but finding a few minutes a week to watch or read some news and 5 minutes to vote (at the polling station right across the road from the south end of the university campus) shouldn't be that taxing. I don't get people who don't vote.
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SayBlade
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701 Fans
10:44 AM on 12/29/2011
I am one of those who is utterly curious about why people do not vote. People give their reasons, but I still don't get it. What did your PhD neighbour say about why she didn't vote?
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